Club History

History of the North Adelaide Lacrosse Club

Founding & Early Years

The North Adelaide Lacrosse Club was established on 22 March 1887, making it the oldest continually existing lacrosse club in South Australia. Its creation followed a gathering at the Prince Alfred Hotel, where H. Davenport (secretary), W. H. Bragg, and others were appointed to a provisional committee. The club was among the first wave of lacrosse teams in the state, alongside Noarlunga and Knightsbridge. Their emergence led to the formation of the South Australian Lacrosse Association in 1888.

Notable Figures

Professor Sir William Henry Bragg, Nobel Prize winner in 1915, was both a founding member of North Adelaide and later Adelaide University Lacrosse Club. Alfred Bertram-Cox, famed globetrotter recorded in the Guinness Book of Records, served as club secretary in 1923 and played over 100 games. Mostyn G. Evan, a prominent sportsman and cricketer, played in the 1920s and served as president, contributing beyond the field. In 1960, North Adelaide clinched an A-Grade Premiership by defeating Port Adelaide 20–10—with stars like Ken Bemold, Allan Gandy, and Bob Johnston, who were Australian team members in 1959.

Premiership Legacy

Early successes included unofficial recognition in 1887—before the formal SA Association existed—followed by premiership victories in 1888, 1889, 1897, 1909, 1910, 1927, 1928, 1929, and 1960.

Club’s Current Footprint

The club’s current home base is in Gepps Cross, about 10 km from Adelaide CBD. It fields senior men’s, women’s, and junior teams and prides itself on being a welcoming, family-friendly community hub. Over 137 years on, North Adelaide continues to thrive as one of Australia’s oldest active lacrosse clubs.

Timeline at a Glance